Successful Ageing Study

Project Outlines and Aims

This study aims to determine what constitutes ‘Successful Ageing’ and how it may be achieved. There is currently little consensus regarding a definition of Successful Ageing, a state recognised as not merely the absence of disease but as having better than normal ageing.

Several factors for inclusion under the term have been postulated. These may or may not include:

• the avoidance of an increasing susceptibility to psychological, cognitive, physical and social decline
• the employment of successful tactics to cope with the ‘gains and losses’ of life
• the demonstration of continuous mastery and growth
• attainment of a good life satisfaction and quality of life

It is also suggested that decline (whether social, physical, mental or cognitive) is not indicative of ‘failure’ to successfully age if the individual has successfully adapted to their limitations to achieve life-satisfaction and a good quality of life. Of increasing recognition under the term, is also the individual’s ability to identify themselves as ageing successfully.

By asking people directly what they think contributes to successful ageing, and whether they think they have aged well, we hope to establish which are the most important factors to help others achieve similar outcomes as they grow older. With the average population becoming increasingly older and the burden this places on the health system, this is an important area for research. We hope to identify specific factors that are related to good physical and mental health as well as longevity. If these are factors that can be modified (e.g. with diet) then we can make recommendations at an individual and health policy level to assist future generations.

Potential Participants

At this stage, we are conducting research with 200 people aged 70 to 90 to determine factors that contribute to “Successful Ageing”. The subjects have been sourced and selected from the electoral roll, residing in the Hughes or Cook Electoral Divisions (believed to be a good representation of the average Sydney population).

Questionnaires

This questionnaire has been adapted from a similar study conducted at the University of California, San Diego to fit an alternate, Australian context. We hope that this questionnaire will become the standard “Australian Successful Ageing Questionnaire” for future research into this topic.

The questionnaire studies a number of different factors about our participants, including general demographic information, medical history, lifestyle (including nutrition, exercise, alcohol and smoking histories), current level of involvement in activities (social, physical, spiritual and mental), personality type, outlook on life, attitude to life and ageing, and their mental and cognitive status. It also asks about their understanding of ‘Successful Ageing’: whether they have achieved it and what they consider it to constitute.

Staff

Nikki Gillot (MBBS student)
Prof Perminder Sachdev